100 years ago
May 29, 1917:
WEEK CLOSES CONTEST
Rev. McFarland of the Central Christian Church announced yesterday that the week beginning with yesterday marks a close of the contest between Texarkana and the Longview Sunday schools of the Christian Church to see which could build up the biggest membership during the life of the contest. At last reports, the Texarkana school was said to be slightly in the lead.
May 30:
LAW STUDENTS HERE
A large number of law students, who have just received their diplomas at various schools throughout the south, yesterday began taking examinations for admission to the state bar of Texas before an examining board in this city.
May 31:
NEW ROAD TEXARKANA
A new Road Improvement District has been formed by the landowners in the western end of Little River County for the purpose of extending the Ashdown-Richmond Rockway to Red River. This will be an important development in opening up the districts remote from Ashdown, as owing to the almost impassable roads, the trade of the bottomland farms, which went to other towns, will now come to Ashdown. This will, in time, be another road to Texarkana.
June 1:
34 GRADUATES GIVEN
THEIR DIPLOMAS
The Arkansas High School auditorium was crowded to the capacity for the event every member of the graduating class had been looking forward to. Fourteen received diplomas as having completed the normal training work, and one was awarded for a diploma for completing the English course. The remaining nineteen were high school graduates of the senior class of 1917.
June 2:
AREA NEWS
Mr. and Mrs. C.J. Crampton are happy over the arrival of a little daughter who was born to them Tuesday night. Mr. Crampton is principal of Texas High School. Also, A very patriotic Dallas couple named a little daughter born to them this week, "Liberty Loan." The father is an employee of the Federal Reserve Bank of that city. Liberty Loans being in the news at this time, it seemed the perfect name according to the couple.
June 3:
STORES WILL CLOSE TUESDAY
Practically all the stores in Texarkana will close June 5, the day of registration for the selective draft, according to the announcement of a prominent merchant yesterday. It is stated that the businessmen are going to lend every aid possible to see that every man between the ages of 21 and 31 in Texarkana registers, besides doing whatever is possible to make the celebration here the greatest ever held in the city. A double-header ball game at Maxwell Park, beginning at 2:30, and a big patriotic demonstration at Offenhauser Park beginning at 8 p.m.
June 4:
THREE REALITY DEALS
J.B. White, a farmer on the Richmond Road has sold his farm and purchased this week the store and residence at Seventh and Brown streets for $1,250 from the former owner, J.A. Bailey. J.L. Bohon has purchased a home at 1921 West Ninth St. for a consideration of $1,000. Mr. Bohon is now occupying the property. Mr. and Mrs. C.D. Gathright of Ashdown have moved into their new home on the Summerhill Road recently purchased from Alexander McMahan for $3,500. These deals were made through the agency of M.C. Wade.
50 years ago
May 29, 1967:
FIRE LEVELS BOX COMPANY, DAMAGES FERTILIZER PLANT
A raging inferno which raged out of control nearly three hours Saturday afternoon destroyed an estimated five square city blocks, leveling the Bennett Box Factory and the Farmer's Fertilizer Company's office building. Smoke and intense heat felled several firemen. Three were taken to Wadley Hospital for treatment. Marvin McAlester and J.W. Arendall were admitted to the hospital suffering from smoke inhalation and possible heat exhaustion, both are currently in good condition. Assistant Fire Chief Billy Joe Fox was also treated and released. Firemen battled against time at the height of the blaze as 300 pounds of dynamite was stored within 100 feet of the fertilizer company office. Even closer were tanks of sulfuric acid and ammonia nitrate. Firemen quickly and bravely removed the dynamite from the building before the fire could spread to the area. More than 1,500 onlookers were blocking the roads and hampering firemen and ambulance drivers from moving their vehicles in and out of the area.
May 30:
FORMER TEXARKANIAN
WINS IN SUDDEN DEATH
Victory-starved Miller Barber, who had won only one tournament in nine years on the professional gold tour, snapped a sudden-death struggle with Gary Player with a birdie on the third playoff hole to win the Oklahoma City Open Golf Tournament.
May 31:
ELECTRONIC CAR TO BE
DISPLAYED AT McLARTY FORD
A $75,000 "Electronic Car" that can be driven by remote control and responds to spoken commands will be on display at McLarty Ford, June 1,2 and 3. Called the "Golden Sahara II," the hand-built automobile was featured in the recent movie production of "Cinderfella." The car is powered by a 525 H.P. special type engine. A paint made from pulverized fish scales imported from the Orient gives the car its lustrous pearl finish. Trim is 24-Karat gold-plated and white mink floor mats adorn the inside. When you open the door the engine starts, close the doors, shut off the engine.
June 1:
LOCAL ROTARY CLUB
CELEBRATES 50 YEARS
The Texarkana Rotary Club and the Oaklawn Rotary Club shared the spotlight-one celebrating 50th anniversary and the latter its entry into the ranks of Rotary International. Many guests attended the 50th anniversary meeting at Hotel Grim.
June 2:
DOUBLE DYNAMIC TEXARKANA: SPOTLIGHTING TOURISTS
Tourists and conventioneers spent an estimated $18,000,000 in Texarkana in 1966. There are 3 major hotels, more than 40 motels and 90 restaurants, which accommodate these tourists.
June 3:
MACEDONIA HIGH SCHOOL
CLASS OF 1967
Valedictorian is Gwendolyn Smith; co-valedictorians are Andrea Haynes and Donald Neal. Other graduates are Julius Briley, Marco Griffie, Mary Richardson, Juanita Richardson, Charles Wiggins, Betty Bryant, Mary Davis, Patricia Badon, Kafie Harris, Curtis West, Earldine Carr, Mayella Rowe, Samuel Fredericks, Ruby Gaines, Ruby Henry, George Robinson, Patricia Sanders, Valeria Credit, Valree Simpson, Maggie Williams, Shirley Moore, Patricia Johnson, Willie Mae Russey, Bennie Brown, J.C. Banks, Ron Carter, Thomas Rochelle, Michael Bursey, Walter Davis and Charles Baker.
June 4:
DOUBLE DYNAMIC TEXARKANA
Spotlighting our city's growth-In 1940 the population of Texarkana was 28,840. From 1940 to 1950 there was a 40-percent increase, jumping from 28,840 to 40,628. From 1950 to 1960, a 23-percent increase, and from 1960 to 1966 a 12-percent increase, making an estimated total populace of 56,577.